Machine-gun.



No. 662,761. Patented Nov. 27, I900.

' H. BGWMAN & W. 0. HUGHES.

MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed Apr. 5, 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Shoals-Sheet l Patentad Nov. 27, I900. M. H. BOWMAN &. W. 0. HUGHES.

MACHI N E G U N.

(Application filed Apr. 5, 1900.

3 Sheen-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H m w. 7 lagl m 4 No. 662.761. Patented Nov. 27, I900. M. H. BOWMAN &. W. 0. HUGHES.

MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed Apr. 5, 1900.- !No Model.) 3 Shana-Sheet 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARK ll. llOWMAN AND WILLIAM O. HUGHES, OF IINKS'PAFF, ILLINOIS MACHlNE-GUN..

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 662,761, dated November 27, 1900.

Application filed April 5, 1900v Serial No. 11,6 86. (N modeL' 1'0 on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, MARK I-I. BOWMAN and V jects of the same are to construct an improved form ofgnnnnounl located withiuau armored "carriage, to arrange the mount so that it can be tilted to adjust the trajection, to provide means for increasing on diminishing the area covered by the various guns, and to employmechanism whereby the guns can be fired in banks.

To these ends the invention consistsin the details hereinafter set forth, and illustrated .in theaccompanying drawings, whereip- Figure l is a section through the complete carriage and mount. Fig. 2 is an end view of the mount tilted to its rearward position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the mount slightly tilled and with the tilting-lever removed and the nearer bearing in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a section showing the lever and mechanism for firing.- Fig. 5 is a section showing the lever and mechanism for moving the breechblock. Fig. 6 is a'rear elevati'on,partly broken away to show the adjustments. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line-7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detail of a portion of the fulcrumbars and keeper.

' In the said drawings, 1 l designate wheels supporting aw'unning-gear 2, of any suitable character, upon which is mounted a housing 3, of armor, and within the latter are preferably arranged compartments, such as 4, or ammunition, feed, &c. Atfthe forward end may be a seat 5, and doors 6 may permit entrance to the interior of the structure surtheir adjacent edges being separated 'by an opening 9,-througl1 which firing is done, and the gun-mount proper is suitably supported by thernnning-gear within the housing in about the position indicated in Fig. 1. It is clear that the entire structure is drawn to the point of use and reversed and unlimbered,

after which it is ready for operation;

Rising from the running-gear are uprights 10, carrying toothed segments 11, between whose centers. is hinged at. 12 12 the gunmount pro'peia- The latter consists of an open framework 13, to which are secured. tiltinglevers 14, having thu rub-levers 15,that control bolts 16, which take into the teeth of the segments, as will be clearly understood. There are preferably two of the levers 1.4, one at each end of the mount, and ir the latter is small a single operator can manipulate both levers, while if it is large and heavy the strength of two operators may be required. In Fig. 1 the mount is shown in its usual position, in Fig.2-it is tilted completely to the rear, that access to the muzzles of the guns can be had from the interior of the housing,

"and in Fig.3 the mount is slightly tilted, .as when the range is long.

In the present instance we haveshown the guns arranged imtwo series or banks, one

above the other; but it will be clear that there could be more or less without departing from theprincipleofourinveution. Asseeuin Figs. 4 and 5, each gun 40 is supported at the rear end of its barrel properon a fulcrum-bar 20,extending across and forming part of the mount, while the breech of the gun extends to the rear and is supported in a grooved bar 21, also forming part of the mount. The two bars 21 herein shown have tenons 22 at their extremities, loosely engaging horizontal sockets. in the inner faces of uprights 23, the latter forming movable parts of the-rear corners, of the frame. These uprights may be raised normally by springs 24 .at' their lower ends and depressed against the tension of said springs by hand-screws 25, the springs and screws engaging fixed parts of the framework 13: or, as shown in Fig. 6, screws 26 may be used at the bottom in 'place ofthe springs, and it may-be possible with this construction to omit the screws 25 and allow the bars 21 to descend under the weight of the breaches. The mechanism thus far described permits the tilting of the guns quickly to any degree and with great accuracy and nicety. Roughly, they are tilted by means of the lovers 14, after 40 it is prevented by the which finer adjustments are effected by raising and lowering the bars 21 and rocking the guns over the fulcrum 20.

Each fulcrum-bar 20 is notched, as at 27,

5 for the. reception of the gun-barrels, and

above thebar stands a keeper 28, having deep notches 29, alining with the others and standing astride the gun-barrels, so as to permit sighting. The fulcrum-bars and keepers are preferably mounted removably at their ends within the framework 13 and held therein by any suitable means, such as .the screw (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3) or the plug 31, (shown in Fig. 5,) either'meaus being a I 5 chuck for holding the fulcrumiris and keepers rigidly in' place. The'r ar ends of the I guns may have stubs 41, fitting in the groove 7 of the harm, and just for ard of the breech each'gun may be grooved, as at- -12, whereby notches' 27 and the notches 29 from forward movement, which would disengage its'stub from the grooved bat 21, and whereby, also, the rear end of the.

- barrel forward of the groove 42 assists the 25 grooved bar 21 in resisting the force of recoil. .By this arrangement when it is desired to remove or replace any individual gun after the loading and firing mechanism described 'below has been detached it is only necessary so to loosen the chucks, raise the proper keeper oh? the fulcrum-bar, so as to disengage its notch 29 from the'groove 42 inthe-gumand then lift the latter out of the notch 27 and draw it forward, so as to move its stub 41 out of the grooved bar 21.

As perhaps best seen in Fig. 7, the rear ends of the guns orthe stubs 41 are separated by expansive springs 35, of which the endmost in the series stand between the outer gunsv 0 and the uprights 23. Screws 36 take inward through the end' bars of the framework 13 and bear against the outer faces of the up- I rights, and by adjusting these screws the va-' rious springs 35 are compressed slightly and 45 the rear ends of the guns approximated. Rocking laterally over the'inicrum-bar as a support, theirfront ends will therefore spread ,a little, so as to cause the machine to cover a greater area, whose size is dependent to an extent upon the. range. -When these screws are retracted, the springs again separate the rear ends of the guns until their bodies are brought into parallelism or are even made toconverge slightly.

ing and firing mechanism is not essential to the present invention; but by preference we employ some type of underloading mechanism -such, for instance, as that shown in Patcut No. 359,9l7--although we do not desire to be limited thereto. If this construction is employed, 43 designates the' breech-block to each gun, and 44 the trigger mechanism, be-

yond which it is not considered necessary to describe or illustrate further details of the gun itself.

In connection with guns of this type the The construotionof the gun 40 and its loadbreech-blocksof the guns in each bank are raised and lowered .by a series of levers 50,.

fixed upon a rock-shaft 51, and the shafts of the several banks are caused to move in uni son by levers 52, connected by links 53, as best seen in Fig. 3. Projecting from one shaft 51 is an. arm 54, connected by a rod 55..

with a lever 56, pivoted at 57 to the framework 13, and having a thumb-lever 58 ac'tnat-iug abolt moving over a toothed rack 59; all as best: seen in Fig.5. Bydrawing the lever 56 to the rear the breech-blocks are lowered and the shells are ejected, as described in said patent. By tripping the thumb-lever and moving the handelever 56 forward the breech-blocks are. raised and the firing-pin brought into position for use.

In a very much similar manner the' triggers 4% are connected with levers 60, fast on rock shafts '61. The latter have end levers 62, con,- nected by a link 63. 'An arm 64: is connected by a rod 65 with a second lever 66, pivoted at-67, and this lever hasa thumb-lever 68,

controlling a bolt, moved over a toothed rack 69, all as best seen in Fig. 4. When the firinglever 66 is moved forward, the triggers are released from the hammers so that the gun can be loaded, and when the firing-lover is drawn to the rear the triggers are moved to release the hammers and the guns are fired.

It will not be necessary to further elaborate upon details, such as the exact sizes, shapes, proportions, and materials of parts,-nor to specify that the whole is preferably about balanced over its pivots 12, 1'so that the loading and firing levers may be light, which is desirable, because they turn bodily with the framework when it is tilted; nor will it be necessary to give the uses and ad vantages of the machine norto' explain more in detail the interior construction of each gun and of its loading and firing mechanism, all these things being well known to those skilled in gunnery . What is claimed as new is-- I,

1. In a machine-gun, the combination with a suitable support; of a gun-mount comprising uprights rising'froin the support and having toothed segments, a framework hinged to' the uprights on a line through the centers of said segments and carrying the guns proper, a tilting-lever secured to each end. of the framework, a thumb-lever and bolt therefor which latter engages the teeth of the segment as the framework is tilted,- and means for ad justing the inclination of the guns within the framework, as and for the purposeset forth.

2. In .a machine-gun, thecombination with a gunmount comprising uprights having toothed segments, a framework hinged to theuprights on a line through the centersofsaid segments, a tilting-lever secured to the framework, and a thumb lever and bolt therefor which latter engages the teeth of the segment as the framework is tilted; of the gunsproper mounted in said framework, and independcut means for adjusting them vertically and.

horizontallythcrein suhstantially as and for the purpose set. forth.

3. In a m:whiue-gun, the combination with a gun mount comprising uprights having toothed segments, a framework hinged to the uprightson a line through the-centers of said segments, a tilting-lever secured to the frame worn, and a thumb-lever and bolt therefor which latter engages the teeth of the segment as the framework is tilted; of the guns proper mounted in said framework with their rear ends held in a movable bar thereof, screws for adjusting this bar vertically, and means for adjusting the guns horizontally within said bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a machine-gun, the combination with the gun-mount comprising an open framework, a fulcrum bar. across its front, and the guns proper resting intermediate their lengths on said fulcrum-barand having stubs at their rear ends; of a groovedbar at the rear of the framework in whose groove said stubs are seated, uprights at-the ends of this bar, springs supporting the uprights, and screws in the framework bearing downward upon them, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a machine-gun, the combination with a gun-mount comprising an open framework,

a fnlcrumbar across its front and having notches, and the guns proper having grooves intermediate their lengths,fresting in the notches of said fulcrum-bar; of a grooved bar at the rear of the framework loosely supporting said rear ends, uprights at the ends of this bar, springs supporting the uprights, and screws in the framework bearing down- "ward upon them, all as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a machine-gun, the combination with at their rear ends; of a grooved bar at. the

rear of the framework in whose groove said stubs are seated, uprights at the ends of this bar, springs supporting the uprights, and,

screws in the framework bearing downward upon them, as and for the purpose set forth. 7, -In a inachinefgun, the combination with a gun-mount comprising an open framework, a fulcrum-bar across its front, and the guns proper resting intermediate their lengths on said fulcrum-bar and having stubs at their rear-ends; of a grooved bar at the rear of the framework in whose groove said stubs are seated, uprights at the ends of thisbar, the latter having tenons loosely fitting sockets in the uprights, expansive springs between the rear ends of the guns and between the out-ermost guns and the uprights, and screws through the framework against the uprights,

' 'as and for the purpose set forth.

a fulcrum-bar across its front and having notches, and the guns proper having grooves notchesof said fulcrum-bar; of agroored bar at the rear of the framework looselysupport.

this bar, the latter having tenons looselytitbetween the rear ends of the guns and between the outermost gunsand the uprights, and screws through the framework against the uprights, substantially as and forit'he purpose set forth.

9. In a machine-gnu, the combination with a gun-mount comprising an open framework, a fulcrum-bar across its front and having notches, and the guns proper having grooves intermediate their lengths resting in the notches of said fulcrum-bar and having stubs at their rear ends; of a-grooved .bar at the rear of the framework'in whosegroolve said stubs are seated, uprights at the ends of this bar, the latter having tenons loosely fitting sockets in the uprights, expansive spnings between the stubs at the rear ends of the guns and between the outermostguns and the uprights, and screws through the framework against theuprights, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a machine-gun',thecombination with a fulcrum bar across its front, a keeper-bar in the framework above the fulcrum-bar, and the guns proper resting intermediate their lengths on said fulcrum-bar and having stubs at their rear ends; of a grooved bar at the rear of the framework in whose groove-said stubs are seated, uprights at the ends of'this bar, means for' adjusting the height of the uprights and with them that of the bar, and

tially as described.

11; In a machine-gulnthe combination with a gun-mount comprising an open framework,

a fnlcrum bar across its front and having notches, a keeper-barin the framework above the fulcrum-bar and having notches registering with thosev therein, and the guns proper having grooves intermediate their lengths resting in the notches of said fulcrum-bar; of

a grooved ,bar at the rear of the framework loosely connecting said rear ends, uprights at the ends of this bar, means for adjusting the height of these, uprights and with them that of the bar, and means for adjusting the positionof the rear ends of the guns within said. groove, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12-. In a machine-gun,thecombination with a gun-mount comprising an open framework,

a fulcrum across itsfront and having notches, a keeper-bar in the framework above the ful- ,crum-bar and having notches registering with those therein, and the guns proper having I grooves intermediate their lengths resting in ting sockets in the uprights,expansive springs I intermediate their lengths resting in the"- ing said rear ends, uprights at the ends of gun-mount comprising an open framework,

means for adjusting the position of the rear I ends of the guns within said groove, suhstan- IIO tho notches of said fulcrum-im and keeper and having stubs at their rear ends; of a grooved bar at, the rear of the framework in whose groove said stubs are seated, uprights at the ends of this bar, means for adjusting the height of the uprights and with them that of the bar, and means for adjusting the position of the .stubs at the rear ends of the guns within said groove,substantially descri bed. 13. In a machine-gun, thei-oinbination with a gun-mount, and means for siipporting itand permitting it to be tilted bodily; of a series of guns arranged in a plurality of banks, beneath each bank a rock-shaft, levers thereon connected with the breech-blocks, levers on all the shafts. connected by a link, an arm on one shaft, a 1oading-lever connected with said arm and having a thumb-lever operating a bolt moving over a toothed rack, and means for firing the guns, as and for the purpose set forth.

v14:. In a machine-gun, the combination with the gun-mount and means for supporting it; of a series of guns arranged in a plurality of banks, beneath each bank a rock-shaft, levers I thereon connected with the breech-biocks, levers on all the shafts connected by a link, an arm on one shaft, a loading-lever con-V nected with said arm and having a thumblever operatinga bolt moving over a toothed rack, means for adjustingfthe inclination of the banks of guns within the framework, and

means for firing the guns, as and for the purpose set forth. r 15. In amachine-gun, the combination with the gun-mount and means for supporting it; of a series of guns arranged in a plurality of banks, beneath each bank a rock-shaft, levers thereon connected with the triggers, levers on all the shafts connected by a link, an arm on one shaft, a firing-lever connected with said arm and having a thumb-lever operating a bolt moving over a toothed rack, means for adjusting the inclination of the banks of guns within the framework, and means for loading the guns, as and for the purpose set forth. v

16. In a machine-gun, the combination with the gun-mountand means for supporting it and permitting it to be tilted bodily; of a series of guns arrangedin'a plurality of banks, beneath each bank a rock-shaft,levers thereon connected with the triggers, levers on all the shafts connected by a link, an arm on one shaft, a firing-lever connected with said arm and having a thumb-lever operating'a bolt, moving'over a toothed rack, and means for loading the guns, as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In a machine-gun, the combination with the guninount framework, a series of.ful crum-bars therein having notches in' their upper edges, a series of keeper-bars also therein having notches registering with those in the fulcrum-bars, and chucksin the framework for'holding said series removablyin place; of a series of guns whose bodies rest in said notches, bars to which. their rear ends are removably attached, and means, for adjusting the positioriof said rear ends, as and for the purpose set forth, 1

18. In a machine-gun, the combination with the gun-mount framework, a series of fulcrum-bars therein having notches in their upper edges, a series of keeper-bars also therein, and chucks in the framework for holding said series removably in place; of -a, series of guns whose bodies have grooves which restin said. notches, bars to which their rear-ends are removably attached, and means for adjusting, the position of said rear ends,

as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we have aflixed our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

MARK H. BOWMAN. WILLIA M O. HUGHES, Witnesses:

RICHARD S. STEFF'Y, GEORGE W. STEVESON. I 

